Art deco objects are increasingly sought after by collectors, with a London art deco auction last year realising close to £300,000 sterling (€479,000).
If you have art deco style ceramics, glass, furniture or posters at home, a Christie's auction on February 9th may give you a flavour of their possible value.
According to Mr Daniel Gallen, 20th century continental decorative arts specialist at Christie's, features of the art deco style include geometric patterns (sharp edges like rectangles and triangles) and elongated female forms. These tall women were often dressed in exotic, perhaps revealing, costumes or their often animated poses suggest speed or travel.
The style celebrates socially liberated women of the period, he says. It represents changing social attitudes, the interest in travel and the greater luxuries - even opulence - of the 1920s and 1930s compared to the austerity of the first World War.
Samples of values of art deco ceramics in the forthcoming auction include an Argy-Rousseau glass table lamp from the period estimated at £6,200£6,800 while an Italian Sabino figure group is expected to fetch £2,000-£3,000.
A French vase by Longwy with stylised females and exotic motifs is estimated at £800£1,200, while a pair of Carlton Ware vases should fetch between £1,500 and £2,000.
A print of a woman drinking martini by Louis Icart entitled Cocktail is expected to go for £2,500£3,000. One of the most prolific artists of the period, Icart's work, produced mainly between 1925 and 1935, depicts the feeling of the period with carefree and scantily clad women.
Art deco posters with bold and striking images are also typical of the period. Ouistreham Riva Bella, a 1934 poster by Willy Mucha, described by Christie's as one of his best art deco designs, is expected to fetch £800£1,200.
Delahaye, a poster by Roger Perot, showing a car coming over the horizon silhouetted in the moonlight, is expected to go for between £3,500 and £4,500. Another poster, Gaz, a lithograph in colours by Francis Bernard (1900-1979) is estimated at £2,000£3,000.
Art deco furniture can also sell well. For instance, an art deco birds-eye-maple cocktail cabinet from about 1930 is estimated at £1,200£1,600. A continental art deco walnut veneered and cream leather upholstered three piece suite caries an estimate of £2,000£3,000, while a pair of chromed steel chairs attributed to Louis Sognot are expected to realise £2,000£2,500.
So how can you tell if a piece of art deco is valuable? A signature can be crucial, says Mr Gallen. For instance, names to look out for in glass include Daum, Lalique and Schneider (sometimes marked Le Verre Francais. With ceramics, signatures by Segevres, Longwy or Boch Freres could indicate strong values. With sculpture, Lorenzl, Chiparus, Preiss and Kelety are desirable names.
"The desirability of the item is obviously the other important factor," he says. Clearly, not every piece by the same maker will be equally valuable. "If you think you have a piece of value, take it to a local dealer who can offer advice," he says.
And, of course, condition is still important. One art deco saucer plainly decorated might only be worth £10 or £20. "A lot of things don't have great value. A lot of it is still worth under £100. But if it's in the art deco style, it's worth checking it out."
Art deco expert, Mr Paul Johnston of Odeon Decorative Arts in Francis Street Dublin, is happy to value readers' objets d'art. "Our whole shop is art deco. We specialise in it - furniture, silver, pottery paintings, posters, figures. Prices range from £50 to £5,000."
jmarms@irish-times.ie
